Commentaries:
Robertson's Word Pictures (NT)
This I say (touto legw). Paul explains why he has made this great claim for Christ at this point in his discussion.
May delude (paralogizhtai). Present middle subjunctive of paralogizomai, old verb, only here in N.T., from para and logizomai, to count aside and so wrong, to cheat by false reckoning, to deceive by false reasoning (Epictetus).
With persuasiveness of speech (en piqanologiai). Rare word (Plato) from piqanov and logov, speech, adapted to persuade, then speciously leading astray. Only here in N.T. One papyrus example. The art of persuasion is the height of oratory, but it easily degenerates into trickery and momentary and flashy deceit such as Paul disclaimed in I Corinthians 2:4 (ouk en piqoiv sofiav logoiv) where he uses the very adjective piqov (persuasive) of which piqanov (both from peiqw) is another form. It is curious how winning champions of error, like the Gnostics and modern faddists, can be with plausibility that catches the gullible.
Other Robertson's Word Pictures (NT) entries containing Colossians 2:4:
1 Corinthians 2:4
Ephesians 5:6
James 1:22
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